Connor McDavid, C(NHL.com rank: 2) -- The Edmonton Oilers center was second in the NHL in points (97), power-play points (43) and points per game (1.52) behind teammate Leon Draisaitl (110 points; 44 power-play points, 1.55 points per game). McDavid leads the NHL with 469 points (162 goals, 307 assists) in 351 games since his rookie season of 2015-16. He's scored four more points than Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, in 46 fewer games. McDavid has a higher points ceiling than Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (NHL.com rank: 1) and should have improved linemates this season with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Dominik Kahun at left wing and Jesse Puljujarvi at right wing.
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Leon Draisaitl, C/LW(4) -- He leads the NHL in scoring the past two seasons with 215 points (93 goals, 122 assists), two more than McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov. It was surprising that Draisaitl led the NHL in points last season despite being moved off McDavid's line at even strength. He was just as dominant on the No. 2 line, playing with Nugent-Hopkins and right wing Kailer Yamamoto. The only downside is that Draisaitl (minus-7) and McDavid (minus-6), even with their offensive accolades, each had negative plus/minus ratings.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/LW(69) -- Overshadowed by McDavid and Draisaitl in fantasy, Nugent-Hopkins was third on the Oilers last season in goals (22), assists (39), points (61), power-play points (24) and shots on goal (172). He skates on the first power play with McDavid and Draisaitl for Edmonton, which led the NHL in power-play percentage last season (29.5 percent). After scoring 69 points (28 goals, 41 assists) in 2018-19, Nugent-Hopkins has consecutive 60-point seasons for the first time in his nine NHL seasons and provides an obvious stacking option with McDavid or Draisaitl in the middle rounds of any fantasy draft. It's worth noting Nugent-Hopkins is also entering a contract year (potential 2021 unrestricted free agent).
Tyson Barrie, D (97) -- A bounce-back candidate after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Oilers on Oct. 10, Barrie is likely to skate on the first power play with Oscar Klefbom possibly out for the season with an injury. Exposure to McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins is a similar situation to Barrie's time with the Avalanche, when he was on the first power play with elite forwards MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. Barrie could have a big fantasy turnaround compared to last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he and Morgan Rielly split time on the top power play and scored 39 points (five goals, 34 assists), the second-fewest in his past seven seasons (38 points in 2013-14 and 2016-17). Fantasy owners can expect Barrie to finish as a top 15-20 fantasy defenseman with totals much closer to his NHL career highs in points (59 in 2018-19) and power-play points (30 in 2017-18).
Kailer Yamamoto, RW(127) -- He scored 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 27 games last season after being recalled from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Dec. 29. Yamamoto became a fixture with Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins, a line that was more appealing fantasy-wise than the one with McDavid and mostly forwards Tyler Ennis or Josh Archibald, and Zack Kassian. The emergence of Yamamoto, who led the Oilers at plus-17 last season, and the addition of fantasy sleeper candidate Puljujarvi give Edmonton significantly more secondary scoring than at the start of last season.
Other players to consider in late rounds or off waiver wire: Jesse Puljujarvi, RW (176); Darnell Nurse, D (213); Dominik Kahun, LW/RW (214); Ethan Bear, D; Evan Bouchard, D; Zack Kassian, RW; Mikko Koskinen or Mike Smith, G; Oscar Klefbom, D (INJ.)
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